Horse Details

Beatrice is a pretty bay 16.1hh 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare, who is ideally looking for a long-term loan home, where she will enjoy hacking out and potentially low level dressage, if slowly brought back to strength and fitness. She will always have an end home back with us but is not ready to retire..

Bought from her breeder, originally for eventing for my teenage daughter, she had an amazing early BE record as a 5-year-old – wonderful dressage movement, sensible to hack/in open countryside and a big bold jump. However, as a result of 2 field/travel accidents, the first as a 6mth foal and the second 3 years ago, long periods of box rest and trauma has resulted in a degree of pelvic A-symmetry and early-stage arthritis in her stifle joints (probably now stabilised), rendering her unable to jump again or do a lot of work on tight circles on the advice of our vets. Her stifle joints could, however, be medicated, to do more advanced dressage.

In addition, we believe that the subsequent trauma may have re-triggered some behavioural issues, not untypical of a competition bred mare, but probably initiated as a foal, whereby she lacks trust in humans, so needs a patient, knowledgeable, experienced home and someone who has the time to do ground work as well as ridden. When kept in a low-stress life with plenty of turnout and consistent, good behavioural management practices, she is now straightforward, easy to handle again and enjoys 1:1 attention.

She is a pleasure to ride, alone or in company, good in traffic and with large farm machinery, forward without being strong, has 3 comfortable paces and clearly loves going out and about. As an intelligent, competition bred horse, she can spook and occasionally be opinionated, so does require a quiet, competent and confident rider, but she is very well schooled and responsive to the leg. She is very responsive to training and enjoys learning new things, including schooling on a hack.

She is far from ready to hang up her boots and loves going out hacking, even just once a week. Unfortunately, she is too small for my husband, and I do not have time to ride even once a week. So, now that she is stabilised in her role, we have come to the decision to try to find her ideally a long-term loan home as we would like to stay in contact to know that she is being well treated and not sold on for a quick profit, as she is beautiful and talented. She has been regularly hacking out for over a year now, stabilised on herbal anti-inflammatory medicine. Our vets have said that she will be fine to continue with this lighter lifestyle. She would make a lovely horse for a lady or small man to ride out with friends/children or alone. Now that she is not in pain or under the stress of competing, with good behavioural management practices, she is much better behaved and enjoys her job.

Whilst Beatrice is sociable and loves being with other horses, she is competitive when grazed in the same space as others, especially if grazing becomes short. In these situations, she can behave aggressively towards others (kicking and biting) so needs to be grazed separately for safety of all. That said, she likes to be able to see other horses. If she is left on her own, she will walk up and down the fence line until they return but does not get wound up and panic.

She is low-maintenance as she holds weight well, does not suffer from laminitis or other feed-related conditions, can live out in all but the worst months of the year and is only currently shod on the fronts. Since most of her limbs are now excluded, she only requires insurance for public liability. However, you would be responsible for payment of vet’s fees should she require attention and all routine support whilst on loan – vaccination, dentist, farrier, back checks etc. It is likely she would need sedation for full clipping and any veterinary treatment beyond the basic vaccinations. But with a slow, gentle approach, she can be clipped lightly (neck/shoulders etc). She is good to load and travel, in spite of the accident on the lorry.

In terms of our requirements for a potential loan home, we have the following:
• Knowledgeable and experienced handling competition-type horses; adults only
• Calm, kind and patient with horses; ideally some experience of behavioural therapy, have handled competition type horses or are prepared to learn techniques to help build the relationship
• Maximum weight of 76kg/12 stone (preferably lighter for long term)
• A permanent home – ideally your own yard/land so that she will not be moved or a small-medium sized livery yard with facilities to allow for separate grazing from other horses
• Prepared to visit us several times to get to know each other and make sure there is a good fit; potential loan homes will be checked and references requested

Please apply if she sounds the right fit for you and you meet the criteria above.